Condenser for steam-engines



Patented Aug. 17, 1897.

A TTOHNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM T. SNELL, or CALUMET,- MICHIGAN.

CCNDENSER FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,497, dated August 17, 1897.

Application filed March 12,1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. SNELL, of Calumet, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Condenser for SteamrEngines, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 7 I

I The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved condenser for steam-en-- gines and arrangedto prevent the water from accumulating in the casing of the condenser irrespective of the working of the pump and without causing back pressure on the engine.

The invention consists of a double valve for directing the exhaust-steam eitherv into the condenser-casing or to the atmosphere, the said double Valve being controlled'by a float in the condenser-casing.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification, in which the figure represents a sectional side elevation of the improvement.

The condenser is provided with a suitablyconstructed closed casing A, from the bottom of which extends the suction-pipe B, connected with a pump or like device for drawing the water accumulating in the lower end of the casing A from the casing. On the upper end of the casing A is mounted a valvecasing 0, connected with the exhaust-pipe D of the engine, so that the exhaust steam passes intothe casing G and from the latter can either pass into the casing A or to the atmosphere, according to the position of a double valve arranged in the said casing.

The casing O is provided for this purpose with two valve-seats 0 and C of which the latter opens into the atmosphere and the other opens into the condenser casing A. The valves 0 and C are adapted to be seated on the said valve-seats O and G and the said two valves are attached to a common valve-stem 0 so that an up or down move ment of the valve-stem causes the seating of one valve and the unseating of the other. A spring 0 coiled on the stem 0 presses on the valve 0 so as to normally hold the double valve in an uppermost position, as shown Serial No. 627,151. (No model.)

in the drawingthat is, with the valve C seated on the seat 0 and the valve C 01f the seat 0, so that the steam passes through the casing G into the condenser-casing A.

The lower or inner end of the valve-stem 50 reaches into the condenser-casing A and is provided with a collar 0 adapted to be engaged by an arm E, held vertically adj ustable on the stem F by means of a set-screw The stem F is secured at its lower end to a float G, adapted to rise and fall with the water accumulating in the lower end of the casing A, and the upper end of the said stem F is connected with the spraying-nozzle H, fitted to slide in a pipe H, connected at its outer end with the Water-supply pipe I, de-

livering water to the said nozzle H, so that the water passes in jets into the casing A to as shown in the drawing, so that water can pass from the pipe I, through the sprayingnozzle H, into the casing A; but in case the water is not drawn fast enough from the latter by the pump and this water accumulates in the casing the float G then rises and moves the valve H upon its seat on the lower end of the pipe H, so as to shut off the supply of the cooling-water. When the pump finally reduces the amount of water in the casing A, the float G moves downward to again open the nozzle H, so as to admit water to the casing from the pipe I. In case thewater-supply fails or the water is drawn from the casin g A quicker than supplied, the float G sinks, so as to finally engage the arm E with the collar OTto draw the valve-stem C downward to bring the valve C on its valve-seat C, so as to shut the exhaust steam off from the casing A. At the same time the valve 0 is moved off its seat to permit the exhaust-steam passing into the casing O to pass through the valve-seat C out to the atmosphere.

It will be seen that by'the float G rising and falling with the water in the casing A more or less water is admitted to the casing by the nozzle H, as some of the perforations On the nozzle of the latter are cut off on the rising of the float G to reduce the amount of water passing into the casing from the pipe I.

The under side of the float G is provided with an n pwardly-extending chamber G, into which extends the upper end of the suctionpipe B, so that air-bubbles passing into the casing A are readily drawn through the water into the said chamber and to the suction-pipe B. A spider G is attached to the bottom of the float G to form a guide for the float on the fixed suction-pipe B.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A condenser for steam-engines, provided with a casing, a float rising and falling with the water in the said casing, and a double valve adapted to be actuated by the said float, to shut the exhaust-steam off from the condenser-casing and to permit the exhaust steam to pass to the atmosphere, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a condenser for steam-engines, the combination with the condensing-casing, of a valve-casing connected with the condensingcasing and with which the exhaust-steam pipe is connected, two valves in said casing, one for controlling the admission of exhauststeam to the condensing-casing and the other for allowing the exhaust-steam to escape to the atmosphere, and a float in the condensingcasing and connected with said valves, substantially as described.

3. Acondenser for steam-engines, comprising a casing, a float adapted to rise and fall with the water in the said casing, and a spraying-nozzle formed with a valve and fitted to slide in a pipe attached to the casing, the said pipe being formed at its lower end with a valve-seat, and arranged for connection with the water-s11 pply pipe, substantially as shown and described.

4. A condenser for steam-engines, comprising a condenser-casing, a valve-casing connected with the said condenser-casing and connected with the exhaust-steam pipe, the said valve-casing being provided with two valve-seats, a spring-pressed valve-stem carrying two valves for the said seats, an arm adapted to engage a collar on the said valvestem, and a float adapted to rise and fall with the water in the said casing and provided with a stem carrying the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a condenser for steam-engines, the combination with the condensing-casing, of a valve for controlling the admission of water to the said casing, and a valve for controlling the admission of exhaust-steam into said casing, and a float in the casing and connected with said valves, substantially as described.

6. In a condenser for steam-engines, the combination with a condensing-casing, and a water-pipe entering the same, of a sprayingnozzle sliding in the Water-pipe and formed with a valve at its lower end, a valve-casing having two valve-seats, one opening into the condenser-casing and the other into the atmosphere, two valves in said casing, and a float in the condenser-casing and connected with the said valves, substantially as herein shown and described.

VILLIAM T. SN ELL.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD F. CUDDIHY, WILLIAM SANDERS. 

